DOTr to Allow Students to Ride Trains for Free

The Department of Transportation (DOTr) and its attached agencies have announced that students up to college level, as well as those taking vocational and technical courses, can ride the MRT-3, LRT-2, and PNR for free.

In addition, the terminal fees in airports and seaports, owned and managed by the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) and the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA), respectively, are also waived for students.

The free train rides begin on July 1. There are certain conditions to avail of the free train ride though. The first one is that, as mentioned, it's valid only on weekdays. The second is that there are certain hours to avail of the free train rides, and these are:

LRT-2: 4:30 AM to 6 AM and 3 PM to 4:30 PM

MRT-3: 5 AM to 6:30 AM and 3 PM to 4:30 PM

PNR: 5 AM to 6 AM and 3 PM to 4 PM

According to the DOTr, since the LRT-1 is operated by a private company, Light Rail Manila Corporation, it cannot impose the same program on it.

As for the terminal fee exemptions, these are scheduled to begin on July 16 for seaports and August 1 for airports.

"The DOTr is a sector with a heart for the education of the youth. Kapit-bisig tayo. Isang bayan, isang direksyon para sa edukasyon (We are linked arm-in-arm. One country, one direction for education)," said DOTr Secretary Arthur Tugade.